Rajkumar Santoshi reveals plans to work with Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar
Synopsis
Rajkumar Santoshi has confirmed that comedy films with Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar are actively being planned, with formal announcements described as imminent. Coming off the mixed reception to 'Batwara 1947', Santoshi's next chapter could see him return to the commercial mainstream with two of Hindi cinema's biggest box-office draws.
Key Takeaways
Rajkumar Santoshi confirmed that films with Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar are in planning, with announcements expected 'very soon.' The proposed Salman Khan project is reportedly a comedy film .
Santoshi noted he has made four to five films with Ajay Devgn and spoke highly of all the actors. 'Batwara 1947' , his period drama inspired by Asghar Wajahat's play, released on 14 August 2026 to mixed reviews.
The film marked Preity Zinta's return to the big screen after an eight-year absence.
Filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi has revealed that projects with Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar are in active planning, with an official announcement expected soon. The director made the disclosure in an exclusive interaction, offering the clearest signal yet of his intentions to reunite with some of Bollywood's biggest names.
What Santoshi Said
Speaking candidly, Santoshi confirmed that collaborations with both Khan and Kumar are being worked out. 'It's going on; it's being planned. I think the announcement will come very soon. It's being planned with Salman as well as Akshay Kumar,' he said.
He also spoke warmly of Ajay Devgn, noting that the two have collaborated on four to five films together. 'All of them are very good people. See, the industry and the audience know them as actors, but I have closely interacted with all those people. They are all very fine human beings. Whether it's Sunny or Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar. They are very good people. It's a pleasure to work with them,' Santoshi added.
The Salman Khan Project
Santoshi indicated that the proposed film with Salman Khan is set to be a comedy — a genre the director has navigated effectively in the past. The specific title and production timeline have not yet been made public, with the formal announcement described as imminent.
Batwara 1947 and Recent Work
The comments come on the heels of Santoshi's period drama 'Batwara 1947', which released in cinema halls on 14 August 2026 during the Independence Day weekend. The film, inspired by Asghar Wajahat's play 'Jis Lahore Nai Vekhya, O Jamya E Nai', is set against the backdrop of the 1947 partition of India.
The ensemble cast included Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, Shabana Azmi, Karan Deol, Ali Fazal, Abhimanyu Singh, Khushi Hajare, Kanikka Kapur, Waseem Rajput, and Isha Sandhir, among others. Notably, the film marked Preity Zinta's return to the big screen after an eight-year hiatus. The movie garnered mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike.
What to Watch Next
With 'Batwara 1947' behind him, all eyes are now on when Santoshi will officially announce his next ventures. Given the stature of the actors involved, both projects — should they materialise — would rank among the more anticipated Hindi film announcements of the coming months.
Point of View
No dates, no confirmed deals — and Bollywood is littered with announced collaborations that never materialised. Still, the combination of his name with Salman Khan carries genuine commercial weight, and a comedy framing is a smart pivot after the partition drama 'Batwara 1947' landed to mixed notices. The more telling signal is his repeated emphasis on personal relationships over professional calculation; in an industry driven by deals, that kind of loyalty-first framing is either a genuine creative philosophy or a careful public positioning ahead of official announcements.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What films is Rajkumar Santoshi planning with Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar?
Rajkumar Santoshi has confirmed that projects with both Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar are actively being planned, with the Salman Khan project described as a comedy. Formal announcements have not been made yet, but Santoshi said they are expected 'very soon.'
What is 'Batwara 1947' and how did it perform?
'Batwara 1947' is a period drama directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, set against the backdrop of the 1947 partition of India and inspired by Asghar Wajahat's play. It released on 14 August 2026 and received mixed reviews from critics and audiences.
Who starred in 'Batwara 1947'?
The film featured an ensemble cast including Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, Shabana Azmi, Karan Deol, Ali Fazal, Abhimanyu Singh, and others. It also marked Preity Zinta's return to Hindi cinema after an eight-year break.
How many films has Rajkumar Santoshi made with Ajay Devgn?
Rajkumar Santoshi has collaborated with Ajay Devgn on four to five films, according to the director himself. He described Devgn, along with Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar, as 'very fine human beings' to work with.
Is there a confirmed release date for Santoshi's next film with Salman Khan?
No confirmed release date or title has been announced yet. Santoshi described the projects as being in the planning stage, with a formal announcement expected in the near future.
